• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.103-107
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• 1984

The present study was carried out to invest igate on changing phases of the concentrations of serum LH, FSH, prolactin, testosterone, GOT and CPT in male pigs at various body weight. Six Duroc ${\times}$ Large White ${\times}$ Landrace boars were used to obtain serial blood samples at approximately 20kg body weight intervals from birth to 130kg body weight. The results obtained in this study were as follows: 1. Serum LH concentrations ranged between 2.89 and 4.25 mIU/ml from birth to 130kg body weight. FSH concentrations were below 1.25 mIU/ml under the limit of detection of the assay. 2. Serum prolactin concentrations were 8.05ng/ml at birth, between 3.07 and 4.25ng/ml from 15 to 50kg body weight, between 7.30 and 6.89 ng/ml from 70 to 90kg body weight and then declined to 4.10 ng/ml at 110kg body weight. 3. Serum testosterone concentrations were 0.42 ng/ml at birth, between 0.11 and 0.09 ng/ml from 15to 30kg body weight, and then increased to 1.15ng/ml at 50kg body weight and remained fairly constant thereafter. 4. Serum GOT concentrations were highest (130.75 karmen units/ml) at birth, and rapidly declined between 58.56 and 65.25 karmen units/ml from 15 to 70kg body weight and then increased 83.60 karmen units/ml at 90kg body weight. 5. Serum GOT concentrations were highest (63.25 karmen ullits/ml) at birth and rapidly declined between 27.25 and 30.75 karmen units/ml from 15 to 70kg body weight and then increased to 41.62 karmen units/ml at 90kg body weight.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.252-261
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• 2006

Four experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of organic or inorganic acid supplementation on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, intestinal measurements and white blood cell counts of weanling pigs. In growth trial (Exp I), a total of 100 crossbred pigs ({$Landrace{\times}Yorkshire$}${\times}$Duroc), weaned at $23{\pm}2$ days of age and $7.25{\pm}0.10kg$ average initial body weight (BW), were allotted to 5 treatments by body weight and sex in a randomized complete block (RCB) design. Three different organic acids (fumaric [FUA], formic [FOA] or lactic acid [LAA]) and one inorganic acid (hydrochloric acid [SHA]) were supplemented to each treatment diet. Each treatment had 5 replicates with 4 pigs per pen. During 0-3 wk, average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI) and feed efficiency (G/F ratio) were not significantly different among treatments. However, pigs fed LAA or SHA diet showed improved ADG by 15 or 13% respectively and 12% greater ADFI in both treatments compared to CON diets. Moreover, compared to organic acid treatments, better ADG (p = 0.07) and ADFI (p = 0.09) were observed in SHA diet compared to pigs that were fed the diet containing organic acids (FUA, FOA or LAA). However, during 4-5 wk, no differences in ADG, ADFI and G/F ratio were observed among treatments. Overall, ADG, ADFI and G/F ratio were not affected by acidifier supplementation. Although it showed no significant difference, pigs fed LAA or SHA diets showed numerically higher ADG and ADFI than pigs fed other treatments. In metabolic trial (Exp II), 15 pigs were used to evaluate the effect of acidifier supplementation on nutrient digestibility. The digestibility of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), crude fat (CF), crude ash (CA), calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) was not improved by acidifier supplementation. Although the amount of fecal-N excretion was not different among treatments, that of urinary-N excretion was reduced in acidsupplemented treatments compared to CON group (p = 0.12). Subsequently, N retention was improved in acid-supplemented groups (p = 0.17). In anatomical trial (Exp III), the pH and $Cl^-$ concentrations of digesta in gastrointestinal (GI) tracts were not affected by acidifier supplementation. No detrimental effect of intestinal and lingual (taste bud) morphology was observed by acidifier supplementation particularly in inorganic acid treatment. In white blood cell assay (Exp IV), 45 pigs were used for measuring white blood cell (WBC) counts. In all pigs after LPS injection, WBC counts had slightly declined at 2 h and kept elevating at 8 h, then returned to baseline by 24 h after injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). However, overall WBC counts were not affected by acidifier supplementation. In conclusion, there was no difference between organic and inorganic acidifier supplementation in weanling pigs' diet, however inorganic acidifier might have a beneficial effect on growth performance and N utilization with lower supplementation levels. Furthermore, inorganic acidifier had no negative effect on intestinal measurements and white blood cell counts in weanling pigs. These results suggested that inorganic acidifier might be a good alternative to organic acidifiers in weanling pigs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.32-39
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• 2018

Objective: In this study, we investigated the adverse effects of dietary zearalenone (ZEA) (0.5 to 1.5 mg/kg diet) on the localization and expression of the growth hormone receptor (GHR) in the uteri of post-weaning gilts and explored alternative mechanism of the reproductive toxicity of ZEA on piglets. Methods: A total of forty healthy piglets (Duroc${\times}$Landrace${\times}$Large White) aged 28 d were selected for study. Piglets were transferred to single cages after 10 days' adaptation on an obstetric table. The animals were allocated to one of four treatments: a normal basal diet supplemented with 0 (Control), 0.5 (ZEA0.5), 1.0 (ZEA1.0), or 1.5 (ZEA1.5) mg/kg purified ZEA, and fed for 35 d after the 10-d adaptation. Analyzed ZEA concentrations in the diets were 0, $0.52{\pm}0.07$, $1.04{\pm}0.03$, and $1.51{\pm}0.13mg/kg$, respectively. At the end of the feeding trial, piglets were euthanized after being fasted for 12 h. Two samples of uterine tissue from each pig were rapidly collected, one of which was stored at $-80^{\circ}C$ for analysis of the relative mRNA and protein expression of GHR, and the second was promptly fixed in Bouin's solution for immunohistochemical analysis. Results: The relative weight of the uteri and thickness of the myometrium and endometrium increased linearly (p<0.001) and quadratically (p<0.001) with an increasing level of ZEA. The results of immunohistochemical analysis indicated that GHR immunoreactive substance was mainly localizated in the cytoplasm of uterine smooth muscle, glandular epithelial, luminal epithelial, stromal, and vascular endothelial cells. In contrast, nuclear staining was rarely observed. The immunoreactive integrated optic density of GHR in the myometrium, luminal epithelium, glandular epithelium, and whole uteri of weaning gilts increased linearly (p<0.001) and quadratically (p<0.05) with an increasing level of ZEA. The mRNA and protein expression of GHR in the uteri of weaning gilts increased linearly (p<0.001) and quadratically (p<0.05) with an increasing level of ZEA. Conclusion: In conclusion, ZEA at a concentration of 0.5 mg/kg was sufficient to significantly thicken the myometrium and endometrium, and at a concentration of 1.0 mg/kg induced a high level of GHR expression to promote growth and development of the uteri. This revealed an alternative molecular mechanism whereby ZEA induces growth and development of the uteri and provides a theoretical basis for the revision of Chinese feed hygiene standards.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.89-97
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• 2011

In this study, the efficiency of microsatellite (MS) markers for pork quality was examined and further, their suitability to domestic pork industry also was verified, by measuring meat quality parameters of Berkshire breeds. A total of 323 pigs of Berkshire breeds were slaughtered and subjected to meat quality evaluation. In addition, the genomic DNAs from blood samples of slaughtered pigs were used for genotyping analysis of 50 MS markers. The results revealed that Berkshire breeds have excellent meat quality, compared with the popular domestic breeds such as Duroc, Yorkshire, and Landrace. Noticeably, the Berkshire breeds exhibited a significant post-mortem pH24hr ($5.88{\pm}0.01$) and fat content ($2.878{\pm}0.06$). Through the linkage analysis between MS markers, 14 MS markers showed significant association with meat quality traits (p<0.05). Maximum significant differences of 0.55 pH24hr value and 2.04% fat content were observed between the highest and lowest allele populations. If these 14 MS markers are applied to the pork quality diagnosis kit, the synergistic effect can be expected in meat quality parameters such as meat color, fat content, pH 24 hr, cooking loss, drip loss and water-holding capacity.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.213-220
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• 2014

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of high n-3 or n-6 diet on free fatty acid profile and meat quality traits of pork loin. The 20 heads of commercial $Landrace{\times}Yorkshire{\times}Duroc(LYD)$ crossbreed pigs ($90.9{\pm}2.4BWkg$) were divided into four groups by added fat and oils, such as 5% tallow (Control), 5% linseed oil (T1), 5% safflower oil (T2), and mixture of linseed oil (2.5%) + safflower oil (2.5%) (T3), then reared 4 weeks. Pork loins were taken after slaughter, then sliced in 2 cm thickness and put in low-density polyethylene (LDPE) bag for analysis. T1 showed significantly high concentration of linolenic acid ($2.35{\pm}0.21%$) (p<0.05). The total amount of saturated fatty acids (SFA), mono-unsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and poly-unsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) was significantly high in T1 ($36.05{\pm}1.18%$), C ($22.60{\pm}2.11%$) and T2 ($47.80{\pm}1.29%$), respectively (p<0.05). However, the ratio of n-6:n-3 was significantly low in T1 ($11.57{\pm}0.90$) than that of T2 ($37.56{\pm}12.51$) (p<0.05). There was no signigicant difference in lightness, redness, pH, water holding capacity and cooking loss between treatments (p>0.05). However, the yellowness of T2 was significantly higher than others (p<0.05). From those results, it was considered that feeding high n-3 and n-6 fatty acid diet to pig enables modify fatty acid profile of pork without any side effect on meat quality.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.355-362
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• 2008

This study was carried out to evaluate effects of either organic or inorganic sources of both chromium and copper on growth performances, nutrients digestibility and fecal Cr, Cu, and Zn excretion in growing pigs. A total of 36 growing pigs((Landrace×Yorkshire)×Duroc, weighing 61.2kg in average) were allotted to 4 treatments with 3 replicates and 3 pigs per replicate. Four treatments were designated by supplemental sources of both chromium and copper as follows: ①200ppb Cr as Cr-methionine chelate(CrMet) and 200ppm Cuas copper methionine chelate(CuMet), ②200ppb Cr as CrMet and 200ppm Cu as copper sulfate(CuSO4), ③200ppb Cr as chromium chloride(CrCl3) and 200ppm Cu as CuMet, ④200ppb Cr as CrCl3 and 200ppm Cu as CuSO4. Growth performance was highest(p<0.05) in CrMet and CuMet supplemented diet treatment. Nutrients digestibility of diets was lowest(p<0.05) in CrMet and CuSO4 supplemented diet treatment, and highest(p<0.05) in CrMet and CuMet supplemented diet treatment. Fecal copper, zinc and chromium excretion was highest(p<0.05) in CrCl3 and CuSO4 supplementation treatment and lowest(p<0.05) in CrMet and CuMet supplementation treatment. This study showed a relatively high degree of utilization of Cr and Cu as well as Zn by supplementation of CrMet and CuMet compared with those of the inorganic sources.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.923-932
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• 2003

This study was carried out to estimate the effects of breed and environment such as sex, test station, test year, test season, parity, initial and final weight on average daily gain, age at 90kg, backfat thickness, feed efficiency, lean percent and selection index on the basis of the performance data collected from 25,790 pigs of Duroc, Yorkshire and Landrace breeds which were performance-tested at the Korea Swine Testing Station from 1991 to 2002. The results obtained in the study are summarized as follows; 1. The means of the major economic traits were estimated as 959.95${\pm}$0.699g for average daily gain, 138.36${\pm}$0.072days for age at 90kg, 1.41${\pm}$0.001cm for backfat thickness, 2.33${\pm}$0.001 for feed efficiency, 56.71${\pm}$0.018% for lean percent and 221.65${\pm}$0.113 for selection index. 2. The effect of breed was statistically significant for all studied traits. Briefly, Duroc showed the best performance for the average daily gain and age at 90kg. Landrace had the best performances for the backfat thickness and lean meat percent. In feed efficiency and selection index, Yorkshire had a better score than other breeds. 3. The least-squares means of female and male for the traits studied were 923.05${\pm}$1.289g and 974.53${\pm}$0.856g for average daily gain, 139.74${\pm}$0.145days and 137.21${\pm}$0.097days for age at 90kg, 1.49${\pm}$0.002cm and 1.39${\pm}$0.002cm for backfat thickness, 2.43${\pm}$0.002 and 2.28${\pm}$0.002 for feed efficiency, 56.43${\pm}$0.034% and 56.81${\pm}$0.023% for lean percent and 211.37${\pm}$0.194 and 224.61${\pm}$0.129 for selection index. Therefore, males were superior to females for all traits examined. 4. The effect of test station was statistically significant for all traits except for selection index. Performances for age at 90kg, backfat thickness, feed efficiency and lean meat percent collected from Test station 2 were higher than those from Test station 1. However, Test station 1 showed better average daily gain. 5. The initial weight and final weight included as a covariate in this study had a significant influence on average daily gain, age at 90kg, backfat thickness, feed efficiency and selection index. From the absolute values of the estimated regression coefficients, it was inferred that the final weight had greater effect for the investigated traits than the initial weight.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.181-186
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• 2008

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of supplementation with transgenic Bacillus subtilis secreting chitinase on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood characteristics and carcass traits in finishing pigs. A total of sixty-four pigs ($50.82{\pm}0.82kg$, average initial body weight) were assessed over a period of 84 days. Dietary treatments included: 1) CON (basal diet without antibiotics), 2) AD (basal diet + 0.1% Virginiamycin), 3) CD0.5 (basal diet + 0.5% transgenic B. subtilis), 4) CD1.0 (basal diet + 1.0% transgenic B. subtilis). Each dietary treatment had 4 replicates of 4 pigs per pen in a randomized complete block design. In terms of growth performance, the ADG (average daily gain) and gain/feed ratio were significantly increased with the CD1.0 diet compared to the AD diet during weeks 0-4 (p<0.05). During weeks 4-8, the ADG was significantly increased with the AD diet compared to the CON and CD0.5 diets (p<0.05). The ADFI was also significantly increased with the AD diet compared to the other diets (p<0.05). During weeks $8{\sim}12$, the ADFI was significantly increased with the CON diet compared to the other diets (p<0.05), and the gain/feed ratio was significantly increased with the CD0.5 and CD1.0 diets compared to the AD diet (p<0.05). Over the entire 84 day test period, the ADFI was significantly increased with the AD diet compared to the CD0.5 and CD1.0 diets (p<0.05). The gain/feed ratio was significantly increased with the CD0.5 and CD1.0 diets compared to the CON diet (p<0.05). In terms of meat color, the L value was significantly increased with the CD0.5 diet compared to the CON and AD diets (p<0.05), and the a value was significantly increased with the CON diet compared to the other diets (p<0.05). In terms of sensory evaluation, meat color was significantly improved with the CON, CD0.5 and CD1.0 diets compared to the AD diet (p<0.05). Marbling was significantly increased with the CON diet compared to the other diets (p<0.05). Firmness was significantly increased with the CD0.5 diet compared to the AD diet (p<0.05). In conclusion, supplementation with transformed B. subtilis secreting chitinase improved gain/feed ratios and influenced meat color. Thus, we suggest that transformed B. subtilis secreting chitinase can partially substitute for antibiotics.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.459-470
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• 2007

Domestically, finishing pigs are marketed at 110 kg on an average. However, it is thought to be feasible to increase the market weight to 120kg or greater without decreasing the carcass quality, because most domestic pigs for pork production have descended from lean-type lineages. The present study was undertaken to investigate the growth efficiency and profitability of ‘high’-market wt pigs and the physicochemical characteristics and consumers' acceptability of the high-wt carcass. A total of 96 (Yorkshire × Landrace) × Duroc-crossbred gilts and barrows were fed a finisher diet ad laibtum in 16 pens beginning from 90-kg BW, after which the animals were slaughtered at 110kg (control) or ‘high’ market wt (135 and 125kg in gilts & barrows, respectively) and their carcasses were analyzed. Average daily gain and gain:feed did not differ between the two sex or market wt groups, whereas average daily feed intake was greater in the barrow and high market wt groups than in the gilt and 110-kg market wt groups, respectively(P<0.01). Backfat thickness of the high-market wt gilts and barrows corrected for 135 and 125-kg live wt, which were 23.7 and 22.5 mm, respectively, were greater (P<0.01) than their corresponding 110-kg counterparts(19.7 & 21.1 mm). Percentages of the trimmed primal cuts per total trimmed lean (w/w), except for that of loin, differed statistically (P<0.05) between two sex or market wt groups, but their numerical differences were rather small. Crude protein content of the loin was greater in the high vs. 110-kg market group (P<0.01), but crude fat and moisture contents and other physicochemical characteristics including the color of this primal cut were not different between the two sexes or market weights. Aroma, marbling and overall acceptability scores were greater in the high vs. 110-kg market wt group in sensory evaluation for fresh loin (P<0.01); however, overall acceptabilities for cooked loin, belly and ham were not different between the two market wt groups. Marginal profits of the 135- and 125-kg high-market wt gilt and barrow relative to their corresponding 110-kg ones were approximately -35,000 and 3,500 wons per head under the current carcass grading standard and price. However, if it had not been for the upper wt limits for the A- and B-grade carcasses, marginal profits of the high market wt gilt and barrow would have amounted to 22,000 and 11,000 wons per head, respectively. In summary, 120～125-kg market pigs are likely to meet the consumers' preference better than the 110-kg ones and also bring a profit equal to or slightly greater than that of the latter even under the current carcass grading standard. Moreover, if only the upper wt limits of the A- & B-grade carcasses were removed or increased to accommodate the high-wt carcass, the optimum market weights for the gilt and barrow would fall upon their target weights of the present study, i.e. 135 and 125 kg, respectively.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.81-92
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• 2010

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of fermented diets including liquid by-products on nutrient digestibility and nitrogen balance in growing pigs. Treatments were 1) CON (basal diet), 2) F (fermented diet with basal diet), 3) KF (fermented diet with basal diet including 30% kale pomace), 4) AF (fermented diet with basal diet including 30% angelica keiskei pomace), 5) CF (fermented diet with basal diet including 30% carrot pomace) and 6) OF (fermented diet with basal diet including 30% grape pomace). A total of 24 pigs (41.74kg average initial body weight, Landrace $\times$ Yorkshire $\times$ Duroc), were assigned to 6 treatments, 4 replicates and 1 pig per metabolic cage in a randomized complete block (RCB) design. Pigs were housed in $0.5\times1.3m$ metabolic cage in a 17d digestibility trial. During the entire experimental period, Digestibility of dry matter (p<0.05) of treatment CON, F and CF were higher than other treatments. In crude protein digestibility, treatment F was higher than treatment AF and GF (p<0.05). Treatment GF showed the lowest digestibility of crude fiber among all treatments (p<0.05). In ether extract digestibility, treatment AF and CF showed higher than other treatments (p<0.05) except KF treatment. CF treatment showed the best digestibility of ash among all treatments (p<0.05). Whereas, For Ca and P digestibility, CF and OF treatments were improved than other treatments (p<0.05). Energy digestibility (p<0.05) of CON, F and CF treatments were higher than KF, AF and GF treatments. In total essential amino acid digestibility, F treatment was improved than AF, CF and GF treatments (p<0.05). In total non-essential amino acid digestibility, F treatment was higher than CON, AF and GF treatments (p<0.05). In total amino acid digestibility, F treatment was higher than AF and CF treatments (p<0.05) and GF treatment showed the lowest digestibility (p<0.05). In fecal nitrogen excretion ratio, GF treatment was greatest among all treatments (p<0.05) and F treatment was decreased than other treatments (p<0.05). In urinary nitrogen excretion ratio, CON and GF treatments showed the lowest among all treatments (p<0.05). In nitrogen retention ratio, CON treatment showed the high and KF treatment showed the lost among all treatments (p<0.05). Therefore, this experiment suggested that fermented diet could improve nutrient and amino acid digestibilities of growing pigs.